Quick answer
Clear cache and cookies by turning off the options for passwords, history and autofill in your browser, and leaving only the items for cache and cookies. Before clearing, check that sync with your Google account or Microsoft account is turned on, because that way bookmarks and passwords are not lost. Clearing the cache does not remove your files from the computer, only temporary website data.
How to recognize the problem
- Websites load slowly or show an old version of the page
- Some websites ask you to log in again or show login errors
- The page looks broken, parts do not load
- The browser uses more and more disk space
- After changing your password, the website still logs you in with old data
Most common causes
Accumulated cache
The browser stores copies of images, scripts and pages to display them faster. Over time these copies pile up and can become outdated.
Faulty or old cookies
Cookies remember your login and website settings. If they get corrupted or expire, the website logs you out or shows an error.
Too much data in the profile
Besides cache and cookies, the profile stores passwords, history and autofill data. If everything is deleted at once, useful things are lost too.
Not enough disk space
When the disk is full, the browser cannot write new temporary files and starts behaving incorrectly.
Step-by-step fix
- 1
Back up important data
First check that sync with your Google account is turned on in Chrome or with your Microsoft account in Edge, because that way bookmarks and passwords are saved to the account, not just locally. If you do not use sync, export your bookmarks: in Chrome open
Bookmark manager(from theBookmarks and listsmenu or via the addresschrome://bookmarks) and in the three-dot menu chooseExport bookmarks. In Edge the path isFavorites > Manage favorites > more > Export favorites. - 2
Open the page for clearing data
In Chrome go to
Settings > Privacy and security > Clear browsing data. In Edge it isSettings > Privacy, search, and services > Clear browsing data. In Firefox go toSettings > Privacy & Securityand in theCookies and Site Datasection chooseClear Data. - 3
Choose the time range
In the drop-down menu choose
All timeif you want a complete clean, orLast 24 hoursorLast 7 daysif the problem appeared recently. A shorter range is safer because it touches history and logins less. - 4
Turn off the items you do not want to lose
Leave only
Cookies and other site dataandCached images and filesturned on. Turn offPasswords and other sign-in data,Autofill form data,Browsing historyandBookmarksif they are offered. That way you delete only temporary website data. - 5
Confirm the deletion
Click
Clear dataand wait for the process to finish. If the cache is large, it can take a few dozen seconds. Do not close the browser until it finishes. - 6
Log in to websites again
After clearing cookies you will be logged out of most websites. Log in again to the ones you use daily and tick the option to remember you if offered. Passwords are still saved if you turned off password deletion.
- 7
Check whether the problem is solved
Open the website where you had the problem and refresh the page. If the error repeats, clear cookies only for that website: click the site information icon to the left of the address, choose
Cookies and site dataand remove the data for that domain.
If clearing did not help
If the problem repeats even after clearing cache and cookies, check whether an extension is the cause. Open chrome://extensions or edge://extensions and temporarily turn off all extensions, then test the website. Then try in private browsing mode (incognito window in Chrome, InPrivate in Edge) or in a new browser profile, where there is no old data. If the problem appears only in one profile, it is probably a corrupted profile, not the cache. In that case create a new profile and transfer bookmarks and passwords via sync. If the error appears on all devices and in all browsers, the problem is most likely on the website or network side, so wait or contact the website support.
How to prevent it
- Occasionally clear only the cache, without cookies, so you do not lose logins
- Turn on account sync so that bookmarks and passwords are saved outside the computer
- Do not install unknown extensions that request access to all websites
- Monitor free disk space and delete unnecessary files in time
When to call a professional
If the problem repeats on multiple devices, if you suspect a malicious extension or if clearing data does not help, it is better to contact IT support than to continue on your own.
IT infrastructure maintenance · Servers, networks, backup, security and helpdeskFAQ
Does clearing the cache delete my files and pictures from the computer?
No. The cache contains only temporary copies of parts of websites that the browser saved for faster display. Your documents, pictures and downloaded files remain untouched.
Why do websites ask for my password again after clearing cookies?
Cookies remember that you are logged in. When you delete them, the website treats you as a new visitor and asks for login. If you saved passwords in the browser, login is quick because the data is filled in automatically.
How often should I clear cache and cookies?
It is enough to clear the cache when you notice a problem with website display or when the browser uses too much space. Clear cookies less often, for example when a login error appears or when you use a shared computer.